The Ultimate Fighter 25 debut on FS1 drew 288,000 viewers per ShowBuzz Daily. The rating is the lowest-ever for the TUF franchise. T.J. Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt serve as the coaches this season.
Prior to Wednesday night’s episode, the lowest-rated debut was last season’s TUF 24 which posted 370,000 viewers.
The two-hour premiere aired on FS1 on Wednesday.
Payout Perspective:
I am actually interested in this season but the ratings continue the downward trajectory of the TUF Franchise. A couple seasons back, FS1 execs noted that TUF should be seen as more of a DVR-viewed show rather than a live event. Still, the ratings show a decline. With WME-IMG cutting costs the company will need to weigh the benefit of TUF’s use versus the expense it takes to produce the show. FS1 does need content for its network so there is some need for it but could the ratings make execs reconsider.
I think, from a business standpoint, this might be the shows last season. I think the whole “reality tv” craze by and large has run its course, I think it is just too much drama for the die hard fan even….the only people who are watching it are probably the ones who need water, oxygen, and UFC on a daily basis.
Records were meant to be broken.
DFW’s proposal: Have every titleholder be a coach and hold up every single weightclass, having to show run all year long.
No one could break the record timing failure of “The Contender” other than “The Next Great Champ”.